In a tragic case from Iporá in western Goiás, a nine-year-old girl has died at home shortly after being discharged from a local emergency care unit for the second time. The child, Heloísa Souza Rodrigues, was suffering from a persistent fever and two painful furuncles—one on her knee and another on her arm.
According to her mother, Samara Souza, the family first sought medical help on a Sunday when Heloísa's fever wouldn't break. At the Unidade de Pronto Atendimento (UPA), she was given a prescription for several medications, including cefalexina, dipirona, and ibuprofen, along with instructions for hot compresses. The mother stated she could not afford the full cost of the prescribed antibiotics.
The situation escalated when Samara returned to the UPA the following day. She alerted the medical staff to new and alarming symptoms: her daughter had lost her appetite and was having significant difficulty walking. Despite these clear warning signs, the mother reports the doctor attributed the mobility issue to the furuncle on the child's knee, assuring her that Heloísa would improve within two days with the prescribed treatment.
Samara followed the medical advice at home, administering the available medication and offering light food. On Monday evening, there was a brief moment of hope as Heloísa managed to eat a little and her fever appeared to subside. However, the reprieve was short-lived. The child passed away at home shortly after being discharged from the health unit for the second time.
The mother expressed deep frustration, claiming that during the second visit, the physician did not conduct a thorough physical examination. "He barely looked at her wound, he looked at her from afar, from his chair," Samara recounted. She also confirmed that no diagnostic tests, such as blood work or imaging, were ever requested by the medical team.
Heloísa is remembered as a vibrant and communicative child who loved farm outings, dancing, and styling her hair with ribbons. She was an active member of her community, singing psalms at the Paróquia São Paulo VI in Iporá and was eagerly anticipating starting at a new school, the Mater Dei. Her local parish paid tribute to her online, describing her as sweet and pure.
The Prefeitura de Iporá was contacted by g1 for a statement regarding the incident but had not provided a response by the time of the report's last update. The case has left the community in mourning and raises serious questions about the medical care provided.
Based on reporting from g1.